“2016 was the year that hacking became mainstream, but 2017 will be the year where hackers innovate.” — Dan Patterson, Senior Writer for TechRepublic

Cybersecurity is an issue that most people often take for granted. Recently, the world witnessed as WannaCry laid waste to the entire internet, paralyzing even hospitals and government units. With the advent of more “things” getting networked, we might just be at the tip of the iceberg.

According to Aaron Jacobson of venturebeat.com, entrepreneurs and investors are facing two problems when it comes to cybersecurity: Many companies are not doing the basics right and the tools are just… inadequate by today’s standards.

Observing the investment themes of 2017, the article highlighted five key areas in which companies should invest their resources to, these are:

1. Back to the (better) basics

Nothing beats the classic. Improving the usability, effectiveness, and cost of fundamental security technologies is the foundation of a strong defense against cybersecurity threats. Monitoring access to see what goes in and out of the company database is crucial in today’s contagious cyber threats. Office 365 is a perfect tool for this, especially with accessibility options spread across its collaboration apps like Skype for Business and Outlook.

2. Analyze and automate

Almost anything about digital transformation is driven by these two goals: to analyze more and to automate more. Leverage on big data, visualizations, artificial intelligence, and automation to assess risk, identify breaches, and improve incident response.

Start with small steps: automate your employee concerns like leaves or attendance with an optimized employee portal. Empower your company with Power BI to understand your company data through visualizations. Small steps make a big difference in the long run.

3. Solve the people problem

The tools used are only the other half of digital transformation; the other half is the people who will use them. The right mindset of the employees plays a big role in a company’s overall cybersecurity. Better training and seamless onboarding of tools to ensure it does not impede their productivity are essential in obtaining a better cybersecurity posture.

When understaffed, leverage on outside sources or ready-made solutions like Enadoc and Office 365 to smoothen the process of transition. This gives more time for the company and its employees to learn the new systems and have a better adaption period overall.

4. Fortify the new fronts

Three things: always aim further, be observant of the latest trends, and always invest in preparing for the future disruptions. A research department is a must for any entrepreneur aiming to survive the disruptions.

According to a study by MIT Sloan Management Review, digital transformation and its aspects like cybersecurity, are less about technology and more about strategy. Just like war, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

5. A dedicated cybersecurity team

With today’s sophisticated threats, a dedicated cybersecurity team is a must for any organization. Microsoft knew this and made the Enterprise Cybersecurity Group (ECG) that consists of three pillars: Protect, Detect, and Respond. This is especially true for an SMB that relies on communication and constant collaboration to get things done as files and network activities are rampant in these companies.

The good news? By opting for a Microsoft Solution like Office 365, you also wield the power of ECG. This gives Microsoft solutions an edge against other solutions because it offers the same security that Microsoft uses to its customers across all of its products (Azure, SharePoint, Office 365, etc.)

It seems that cybersecurity (or lack of it) will be the focus of 2017’s digital transformation. Expect to see more before the year ends and always stay up-to-date with the latest trends and news. We are still early in the adoption cycle for next-gen security but rest assured that after all of this is a revolutionized cloud-first, mobile-first world.